Yuletide Blanket :: Inspiration

Even though I've designed and crocheted dozens of blankets over the years, the excitement of starting out on a new blanket journey has in no way diminished. I still get sooooooooooooooooooooo excited, like I can hardly contain the feelings as they fizz and bubble and make me feel like I've got ants in my pants. 

I've been pondering on the idea of making a Christmas blanket for the longest time (many years, on and off) but have always managed to talk myself out of it. I think I was simply too indecisive to commit to a colour palette, being that my own personal Christmas colours are "jewel brights" and this probably wouldn't work out for various reasons. As you may well know, I also have a real problem with incorporating white into my blankets and that became a massive stumbling block for me. I got all caught up in the idea that a Christmas style blanket would absolutely have to include white, and yet every time I tried to work something out it all went horribly wrong.

Eventually after much faffing (and finally deciding that white simply had to stay on the shelf), I settled on the idea of using nature as my inspiration. I made my brain forget about colourful baubles and tinsel, and began to think about the natural world instead. It seems so obvious now, but it was a real lightbulb moment at the time!

Photo Credit : Arcade Flowers

I thought about Christmas wreaths and all the beautiful natural elements that we associate with this time of year - holly, ivy, eucalyptus (my fave scent of the season), pine, orange slices, berries and cones.

Photo Credit : Schwartz

I also began to think about the flavours of the festive season - mulled wine, gingerbread, nuts, cinnamon, clementines, cloves. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, this set me off on a wave of craving and fondness for this cosy time of year which surprised me because I am truly a summer-loving girl. 

Although I was super happy with my ideas and inspiration, the colour palette came together in very slow stops and starts. I spent quite a few weeks tweaking and messing with it, adding colours in, taking colours out and fine-tuning the balance until it suddenly felt exactly right. I always know when I've got it right because I feel it right in the pit of my stomach, a very deep, visceral reaction which is full of emotion.

Once the colours were in place, the design for my Yuletide blanket came together surprisingly quickly.  I had it in my head that I wanted to make a square blanket - one big giant square so that those rounds would grow out from the centre. I've never made a giant square blanket before so this is a first for me, and I can tell you that it is ThRiLlInG!! As the rounds get bigger and bigger, there is less stopping and starting (and darning in ends) and more rhythmic, soothing, wonderful repetitive crochet. I'm currently up to round twenty five I think, and so far it is giving me the hugest amount of satisfaction and pleasure. 

I've designed a simple three-row pattern repeat inspired by the spike stitch border I created for the Dahlia blanket. Oh-my-gosh, it is such a neat design to crochet with just enough thought needed to prevent boredom setting in, but simple enough to provide that relaxation factor. I can't tell you how much I'm loving it.

The Yuletide blanket will be available as a yarn kit with a printed pattern in early September. The timing means that you can crochet it through the Autumn so that it'll be ready to adorn your sofa for the festive season.

I'm not sure yet how big the finished blanket will be, but I'm thinking something between 4 and 5 ft square. I want it to be big enough for a snuggle, but compact enough to easily throw over the back of an armchair.

Incidentally, are you familiar with the word "Yuletide"?? It's quite old fashioned and refers to the time around the Christmas season, usually from around 21 December until 1 January. The celebration of Yuletide dates back centuries, and was originally a way to commemorate the winter solstice — the shortest day and longest night of the year. 

I hope it's OK to talk to you about this right now - I know it's a long way in advance and it does feel a bit weird to be talking about Christmas as we are just at the start of Spring! But I wanted to give you a glimpse into my creative life and to share the journey with you in real time. I always feel much happier when I'm sharing. 

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ps while we're talking about blankets and timings, I also wanted to mention that the Yuletide blanket won't be run as a crochet-a-long. My annual crochet-a-long will be happening at the same time as in previous years (yarn packs in November, with the CAL weeks running through January/February).

x

 

 

 

Comments

[Julie]

If I wanted to knit it as a wool alternative can you suggest a yarn type please?

[D Richards]

I love the idea of a Yuletide blanket!
Such beautiful colours.

[Holly Lawson]

Your work is amazing. I’m pretty new to crochet but I have made 2 of your ripple blankets and the pattern is amazing. I’m wanting to make a linen stitch granny square blanket. I have watched every you tube video. I have made plenty of practice squares. I don’t want to turn the work (I don’t know why you would have to when you don’t on any other granny square) but it does have the best corners. Other videos the square is not square. I would love to know how YOU would solve this… and make the perfect linen stitch granny square!! :)
Thank you!!!
Holly Lawson
Phoenix, Arizona US

[Joanne Palmer]

I'd love to make this into a Christmas tree skirt!

[Joy Macgregor]

Another beautiful design Lucy. Hope your feeling a bit better xx

[Cori Johnson]

I am really excited for this kit! I’ll be watching for it in September.

[Paula Hughes]

Do you have a release date yet? Can we pre order?

[Patty]

I love the inspiration photos you've posted, these are the seasonal, holiday colors I like. I'm looking forward to September (also being a summer loving lady, never thought I'd say that!), to be able to purchase the kit and make this lovely blanket. Thank you for sharing your wonderful, colorful creations.

[Luna]

I want to mske this beautiful blanket and the yarn i color s the key of the beauty of this blanket. Where to get the yarn?

[Louise G]

This is so beautiful, and love the idea of a yarn pack for this one! I think I'll be wanting to get this one for sure. Can't wait! It will be a fun project to work on through the holidays.

[Catarina Gonçalves]

Love those colours! Can't wait for September.
Terrific ideia of putting the white out. I'm with you! :) <3

[Mary Adams]

Being the nature lover that I am and using natural elements in my decor.I’m really loving this blanket. I can’t wait until September ! I can see myself now sitting around the campfire at our campsite crocheting this :)
Thank you for all your time and effort you put into your patterns and blog.Your lovely blankets have been my inspiration in learning how to crochet:)

[Sissy Hillenbrand]

Looking forward to starting this one.

[Katherine Brown]

Love the colors and pattern so far. Can't wait to get started in September.

[EDWINA KELLOCK]

Loving those colours, this will be my Lucy Treat this winter I think. It looks so snuggly too, just what you want in a blanket.

[Judy Kiesow]

I love the idea of a Christmas blanket and I don't personally use white at Christmas. I think I may do this one!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Beverley]

Oooh Christmas blanket what a fab project using the senses of smell to define the colour scheme. So clever.

[Annie Brodrick]

A Beautiful project to look forward to come Autumn my most favorite season of the year. Thank you Lucy!

[Charlotte]

Still thinking about this one. It reminds me of a Scandinavan sweater. Prefer jewels tone for Christmas but the idea of a square is very good. Liked the Meadow Blanket, also did a baby blanket in the meadow pattern with Flutterby yarn.

[April]

Jewel tones are my fav! This looks do fun too though and I love the idea of a giant square.

[Sandra]

Loving the new blanket so different from any of your others. I can’t wait to get started.
Thanks for all the hard work you put in, to giving me lots of enjoyment with all your crochet project. You are amazingly generous.
🧶🧶🧶🧶💕

[Natalie]

The Yuletide blanket is really beautiful.
No problem at all with you mentioning Christmas things now, it's a reminder I need to get my act together if I'm to make all the gifts for family this year!

[Juliana]

Hello, Lucy,
This is so beautiful! I will probably never make a yuletide blanket, since it's in the beginning of summer here in Brazil. But I still love to see such lovely inspiration pictures now, in our autumn... ;)
Now I feel like finishing the current blanket I am making (also inspired by your designs) to make a "big square blanket", too!
Thank you for sharing this!

[Elsie]

I love the idea of a Christmas blanket. I’m in

[Carol Keskeny]

So beautiful, thank you so very much for sharing your creativeness!